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This blog is about Option Solving and how it has so many applications.

Just recently we were having dinner with some close friends. The wife, a psychotherapist, was facing the renewal of her office lease. While there were some other contextual factors that were driving her dilemma, she was struggling with her approach because she had not been the primary lessee to date, very much liked her office (which she had already occupied for several years), and was hoping to keep it for another 5-7 years.

At some point, as our friend described situation, my wife suggested that I introduce this friend to option solving. With a quick overview, I then worked toward what her question would be; based upon her circumstances and considerations (see the Latest Example).

Once we succeeded with the question, then we explored her “bookends”: those more extreme options which were least likely to be considered…but they were options nevertheless. Based on her current level of frustration, one option was “Tell them to ‘Go to Hell’” and the other was “Accept whatever terms are offered” – see Latest Example.

With her intuitive senses pushing these to one side, now she was ready to create fresh potential options. Two of which, in the Latest Example, were “Low ball the landlord, in view of it being a renters market” and “Find others to jointly lease the space.” Once all her five options became clear, I then advised her to sleep on it (use some emotional distancing, which she thought was a great idea), when her most favorable option would surface once she woke the following morning … her intuitive mind will push aside the clutter and haziness and prompt her to make an optimum decision. Suddenly, toward the end of dinner, a whole look of peace crossed her face, which happens to so many other options solvers at this point. As of writing this blog, she was making good progress along her chosen path.

Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: “Sometimes the initial question is not the right question.” Make your COMMENTS or go to peter @ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the author.)

This blog is about Option Solving and Option Solving is a much better way for career beginners and job seekers to make their career choices, than so many other traditional modes. In a moment you will see why.

College graduates and those already in careers have picked up a tremendous amount of intuitive wisdom in their lives to date –from friends, family, schooling, college, early work experiences, and so on. Intuitive wisdom provides an incredible bank of information to draw upon when the time comes for choosing careers. The trick is to access that bank of information in the most effective way: how do I access that mind boggling level of intuitive wisdom I’ve gained over the years, especially when it’s locked away? That’s where Option Solving comes in.

For many job seekers in the current economic scenario, this is a great time to look at your deep-seated job desires rather than go back to what you’ve been doing. There are new positions and roles emerging as the economy changes that might gel better with your own intuitive desires.

The first step is to come up with an appropriate question. Perhaps one like: “What’s the best career choice for me now?” You can learn more how to pose the right questions from the option solving book.

Your next step with Option Solving is to set your mind toward an additional framing technique known as “bookends” (find out more about these from the book). But two likely bookends could be: 1) Do nothing and just hope the right job comes along. 2) Follow the career path decided by my family and friends. The idea behind bookends is to choose extremes you’re least likely to follow: hence the ones stated above.

With these extremes your incredible intuitive wisdom will kick in, as it will naturally tend to reject these bookends. Then you should map out 5-8 alternative choices of career that appeal to you in some way – see example under Latest Example tab.

Once you have laid these out go to bed and sleep on them – as a career beginner that will probably mean from 2.00AM to 2.00PM the following afternoon! For more mainstream careerists, it will mean first thing in the morning. However, before you close your eyes, you ask yourself exactly the same question as you posed earlier: “What is the best career choice for me now?”

The first choice (of all the alternatives) that pops into your head when you wake up is the career choice you should pursue. This sleep break is known as “emotional distancing” (more in the book) and allows your intuitive intelligence to work at its best (it does all the editing and removes all the fluff).

Once decided, don’t be put off by your family and friends. No matter the challenges or obstacles, this is the career of your dreams and should be pursued at all costs. Remember, “He/She who lets go is the one who loses out.” Best of luck with your chosen career!

Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: Dealing with an office rental dilemma. Make your COMMENTS or go to peter @ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the author.)